Handling of materials and apparatus therefor



April 28, 1953 M. .1. NAPIER HANDLING oF MATERIALS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

- Mew/N J NAP/ER April 28, 1953 M. J. NAPIER 2,636,284

HANDLING 0F MATERIALS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed July 12, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. M5L L//N J NAP/f@ BY m wwf April 28, 1953 M. .1. NAPIER HANDLING oF MATERIALS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 12, 1948 INVENTGR. Maw/v /VAP/E April 28, 1953 M. J. NAPIER HANDLING oF MATERIALS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR v5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July l2, 1948 n it ' JNVENTOR. Mew/N J. NAP/ER (F f/W BY /g/ April 28, 1953 M. J. NAPIER HANDLING oF MATERIALS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July l2, 1948 FIG. 22

INVENTOR. J /VA P/ER MEL V//v Patented Apr. 28, 1953 HANDLING OF .MATERIALS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Melvin J. Napier, Akron, Ohio, assignor to Miami Boiler & Machine Company, Inc., Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio l Application July 12, 1948, Serial No. 38,264

11 Claims.

Y This invention relates to the handling of materials, and, more particularly, to the drying and/or cooking thereof. It includes the process and apparatus for carrying it out. The apparatus is particularly adapted for the treatment of pasty or pulpy materials, including glue-like fibrous substances and includes the process for the treatment thereof and especially for the drying of brewery spent grains, distillery slops and the cooking and drying of sh products from which the livers have been removed, and a conglomerate of iish for. fertilizer. Such treatments are included as a part of this invention.

The apparatus includes means for transporting materials and for the continuous treatment thereof. It includes a screw conveyor, the blade ofwhich is interrupted by means perpendicular thereto. More particularly, it includes two adjacent parallel screw conveyors with overlapping blades interrupted at intervals by means therein which is perpendicular to both screws. The invention includes also plural screw conveyors with at least one bearing located intermediate the ends thereof, and means for accelerating the rate of movement of material around the bearing. It includes special means for repeatedly reversing the The process includes thetreatment of materials diilicult to handle in ordinary means. It includes moving the materiau forward and back by screw conveyors and the transport thereof fro-m one end to the other of a vessel with means for heating the same therein to dry-and/or cook the material as it is conveyedtherethrough, and the breaking up of agglomerates of the material before discharge vfrom the Vessel. The material is conveyedv through thevessel with' repeated.'v

compression into cakes, disintegration of the cakes, and recompression into cakes. rIfhe material is heated and at the same time a large and 'changing surface is exposed to gases which yare 'passed over it to remove vapors which' are fevolved. The process is particularlyuseful in the :treatment of pastes or paps, etc; ofv high water content, because it eiiects substantially uniform 'removal of ,water throughout the mass, without `'anyportion becoming overdry. By the use of `55 Fig. 16;

2 proper temperatures a material may be cooked as well as dried.

Fish meat, when mashed, forms a thick paste which becomes gelatinous on heating and dicult to handle. By slowly moving the meat forward, compressing it into a cake, and then breaking up the cake, and repeating the operation at frequent intervals, and heating the meat and providing for the removal of gases and vapors as they are evolved, with possibly yalso the breaking up of agglomerates in the iinal heating step, it has been found possible to cook and dry sh meat as a continuous process; and the invention includes such treatment as will be more particularly described herein. rIhe invention also includes the drying of brewery spent grains and distillery slops, vegetable-oil press-cake from cottonseed, soybean, etc., and other food and chemical materials, in a similar manner as will be described more particularly in what follows.

Thus, the invention not only includes new mechanical elements and movements and combinations thereof, but includes also the treatment of materials.

The invention will be described in connection `with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is an Aelevation of a single unit of equipment with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a section of modified equipment in which the driving shafts are supported intermediate their ends by a bearing;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevation on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

l Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1 1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 isv a plan View of alternate reversible driving means connected with a plurality of treating vessels;

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view of the driving unit of Fig. 8 -on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the driving unit on the line I0 I0 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 11 isa vertical section of the driving unit on the line Il ll of Fig. 9;-

Fig. 12 is a detail showing how the cams are r'movably fastened to the cam drum; f

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate how the relative positions of the cams may be changed;

Fig. 15 is a plan view, partly broken away, of an alternative' type of driving unit;

Fig. 16 is a vertical section on the line lli-I6 for Fig. 15;

vertical section on the line H ll Fig. 18 is a detail showing how the cams are movably fastened to the clutches;

Figs. 19 and 20 illustrate how the cams may be fastened to the clutches in different relative positions;

Fig. 21 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a short length of equipment of modified construction which includes means at intervals for directing hot gases down into the material being treated;

Fig. 22 is a vertical section ontheline 227-22 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is an enlarged detail of the construction of the heating means shown in Fig. v22; and

Fig. 24 is a detail on the line 2-24 of Fig. 23.

The apparatus includes the trough i which eX- tends substantially throughout the entire length thereof. In cross-section, the bottornand sidewalls of 'the trough follow the contour of the overlapping blades with slight clearance. The trough isv heated by the jacket V2. It is covered by the lid `3 which is supported at the edgesby the channels '4 (Figs. 1 and 6) The material'to be'treated is fed into the hopper B and conducted down through the passage 9 into one end Lof the trough, andis discharged from the trough through the spout l2 at the other end. 'I-ot air or other jgases are drawn into'the vessel through the inlet f4 at one end of the trough, by the fan I5 located at the opposite end, and discharged through the opening i6. The gases and vapors .are drawn from thetrough up throughthe hood` i1 and'pass'thence through the Vcircular .opening I8 in the partition i9, to the `fan. The material is fed through the hopper vat such'a rate that'with the aidof .baie 2t it backs up in `the-passage@ sufficiently to'seal this pasvsageand prevent the fan from sucking air down throughit.

Steam or other heating :medium 'is passed through the jacket lfrom either end to theother. It mayow in the samedirection asthe-material in the troughory counter'thereto. Itis preferably introduced through the inlet 25 and -exhausted lthrough the ldrain'and 'outlet 26. Ifhighv pressure steamis used it may be withdrawn intermediate -the ends of the trough'through the pipe 27 and passed thence through-the'reduction'valve 28,.-and then reintroduced through the' line 2li, and nally vented through the pipe 26. In this `event the -jacket will" be' partitioned at "30.

The movement'andtreatment of the material is effected by the'helical 'bladesoriiights 40' and `lil (which'are right-'hand and leftehand respectively) fastenedto the .shafts :42 and t3. These shafts'are rotated'in opposite directions by the intermeshing gears and'd. The mutilated or interrupted beveled gears 4'! land 48 mountedon 'theshaft` 49, are driven inthe direction indicated by the arrow. These gears mesh with the. beveled i"gear'l 'whichis 'mounted onthe shaftii on which thegeartS is mounted. As these gears are driven in the direction ofthe arrow they Aturn the .beveled gear 50 rst in one direction and then `the other. VThis .movement is transmitted ,through the gearfli tothe gear 46. These gears drive the shafts-43 and 42 through the exible ,couplings 54 and 55. The;gear 41 contains more teeth than the gear M48, so that `as these shafts -arerotatedin'opposite directions, rst in .one vdirection and then the other, there is r`an overall -forwardmovement Processing of very wet materials is contemplated, .such ,as Ythe drying .of brewers .spent grains, press-cake from a wet-process fish yrneal.'A

cottonseed and soybean cake after the oil has .been removed, the cooking and drying of nonoily fish after the removal of the livers, the cooking and drying of sh conglomerate for fertilizer, and for cooking and/or drying many other .food and chemical products. .The treatment may be. complete in one stage and utilized' in the treatment of products that require gentle handling, or it may be used as the nal stage in the cooking or drying of material such as the final drying vstep itor distillery "slops which have previously been subjected to treatment in vacuum driers. It

is particularly designed for such treatments in which'lthe materialbeing treated is moved slowly vfronrone end ofthe treating vessel to the other.

For instance, in one installation, the equipment Ais designed 'for .movement of the material no faster vthan about .18 to .2 feet per minute. Thus, if the gear 50 contains 32 teeth, the gear 47 fourteen teeth, and the` gear 48 sixteen teeth, and

,A rst `one surface of the'spiral'cake of the material, and then on the otherwithslow progression ofthe materialffrom one Yend of the -vessel to'thefother.

The'rotation'of the upper portions of the shafts toward 'one Aanother is greater than the'rotation inthe opposite direction sothat the over-all effect of themovement of the-nights-isto cake the lmaterial around each shaft, and 'gradually turn these cakes up over-the shafts into'themiddle of the trough where the material is forced Ato the bottom of the trough, and divided'and` forced into opposite directions. v`When the shafts reverse, the pressure is applied inthe `opposite. direction, and a large portion of the.material'is'forced'backup vto the surface at Athefiniddle 'of thetrough-between the flights. At the outer edgeof the trough wherefthe'flights recede land relieve the pressure, the cake'ismoved slightly 'forward, vand Aas the movement-of the flightis reversed itstrikesithe inner portion of the cake, dividing or Ashattering it,fand a large portion` of'thercake ispompressed from the oppositeA direction.

The .flights '0.0 andrai .zare interrupted. at intervals andthe 'crosseshafts -60 .pass through fthese interruptions. The mannerin whiclrthese vcross-- shafts are' mounted willv be: moreparticularly explained v.in connection with Athe :description ,of Figs. 3 and 4. .-Ataeachiforward movement of the yiiightsfthefcalres aremovedatowardthe center-fof the trough and over the cross-shafts 15d-.which break the:cakesfas'z'thefmateral .is forced tothe next portionof vthe j flight. Thus, at 'each'. interruption ofthe. flights thepressure on the material asit is-.movediforward is at anangle compensating thatlofthe'pitch ofthe blade. The material isfforced downand iorwardat anangleapproximatelyequal to thatfof .the pitch :of the blades .d and'AL As the .rotationgof the :shafts is reversed, :the :pressure is 'applied .to Athe opposite :side '.of :the mass. fi.- e., .from the bottom, `and -a :large portion ofthermaterialzis l forcedA diagonally backward, thusconstantlykneading or-shredding the material. l

.This constant reversal inthe directioninwhich the mass of material Yismoved, swabs the ysur- .faces of .thetrough, `.preventingsticking. .This -facilitates heat Avtransfer fromthe jacket .to `the material.

Attthejfeed end ofthe vtrough'the materialls )fvery .Wet, .and may .be '.too wet to cake.

moves forwardit loses Waterand;l forms spiral cakes around each screw. lAt first these cakes are very mushy and scarcely hold their shape. -As the material progresses .through the trough it loses more and more water and the cakes become more shapely. The cakes expose a. large surface of the material to the action of the gases, and as these cakes are broken up in the center of the trough a larger and fresh surface is exposed. On reformation of the cakes dierent surfaces are exposed. The forward movement of the material through the vessel is preferably so timed that the exposure of the material on the surface of the cake is at no time suicient to overdry itjso as to make it hard and crusty. The repeated disintegration and reformation of the cakes with exposure of a constantly changing surface of the material to the gases thus eects uniform drying and the production of a dried mass of substantially uniform moisture content throughout. The nal product may be more or less dry. It may even be fluffy. The temperature and time of treatment may be controlled so that the material is cooked as it is dried.

When the material fed to the equipment is of high water content, so that it tends to flow forward, the flights are advantageously .placed closer together at the end of the vessel toward the hopper, to retard this forward flow. Fig. 1 illustrates the first seven turns of the flight, under the hopper, placed close togeher for this purpose. Materials of very high water content will be moved by gravity faster than those of lower Water content. The pitch of the iiights should be predetermined to most effectively remove the ywater and feed pulp in the required quantity at the point of solidiflcaton.

If material (such as sh meal, etc.) is'to be cooked before it is dried, a greater space may be provided between the hopper and the exhaust fan. The bale 20 will be placed close to the fan, and between this and the hopper the material will be maintained in `a more or less fluid condition. Then, as it passes under the fan, it will start to lose its liquid content. By proper spacing, and control of the rate of rotation of the flights, etc., the cooking period can be regulated.

To more effectively expose the surface of the material to the action of the hot gases baiiles are provided at intervals along the top of the vessel. IThe bottom edge of each baille is advantageously cut away to conform at least to some extent to the contour of the blades at the side of the trough, with sufficient cut away at the middle of the trough to prevent the baflies from interfering with the movement of the ma terial through the trough.

On drying with the type of agitation provided by the equipment shown, fibrous material is apt to ball up and form agglomerates. Therefore, as a final step in the drying or cooking operation, the balls or agglomerates are broken down. This Vis done vby subjecting them to the action of the closely spaced arms 80 at the discharge end of the vessel. This end of the vessel may be separated from the balance by the partition 8| (Figs. l and 6), although for the treatment of materials such as brewers spent grain the partition may be found unnecessary or even undesirable. When a partition is used the agglomerates are forced between the bars as they pass between onevenother as they revolve inwardly andV down, at the center of the trough. Such bars are inadequate to move any considerable amount of the material and, therefore. a blade 8l isl mounted on eachshaft. Its width is the same as the diameter of the screws so that it barely clears the bottom of the trough. Thus the agglomerates in thev discharge end of the trough are moved by the blades 81, first` to one side and then to the other as the screwsgoscillate back and forth. Eventually they are carried up and over the shafts. and. are fed down over the intermeshing arms 80. Here they are broken'up exposing fresh surfaces of the material to the action of the hot gases. Thus any moisture trapped in the agglomerates is exposed to the drying action of thehot air or gases, andthe masses of fibers are broken up so that the material on discharge approaches the state of being separated into individual fibers. f

The shafts 42 and 43 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are supported only at their ends in the bearings 90. If the shafts are so long, or the consistency of the material is such that the shafts must be supported by bearings intermediate their ends,-it is desirable to provide for more rapid movement of the material in the portions of the trough in which the bearings are located, because the bearings occupy space and lessen the area through which the material may pass. These bearing'sadvantageously comprise an upper casting |00 and a lower casting |0| which are fastened together by the bolts |02. The upper casting is fastened to the side channels |04 by the bolts |06. Flared castings |08 are bolted to the central supporting portion |09 by the bolts H0.

It is noted'that the pitch of the last turn of the blades H30 and |4| on each side of the bearing is substantially twice that of the adjacent portion of the blade. This substantially doubles the speed with which the material is moved forward in this portion of the trough. The pitch should be such as to pass all the material beneath .the bearing and prevent its accumulating and forming a bottleneck. The curved blades |08 tend to throw the material to the two sides and prevent its accumulating on the journals. Thus, the material is moved from one side of a bearing to the other side without interruption in its general forward flow through the trough. Interruption in the flow, 'as by lodgment for a period on the journals, would permit overdrying and crust formation. Continuous movement insures uniform drying.

Fig. 3 shows that each cross-bar or rod |60 is enlarged somewhat at the end |B| which is threaded. `These threads mesh with' the internally threaded nipples |63 located in the jacket on one side of the trough. Similar but unthreaded short nipples |04 located in the opposite side of the jacket receive the unthreaded ends of the rods |60.

Fig. 8 shows a plan view of an alternative type of driving equipment in which the drive shaft 200 drives agitators in a plurality of troughs 20| through beveled gears 203. Thedriving' means, housed in casing 205, is located intermediatethe ends of the drive shaft 200, and beveled gears on opposite sides of the driving means face each other so that the thrust yimposed on the shaft on one side of the driving means is compensated by thrust on the other side. The troughs 20| are il-` lustrated as being the same general type as illustrated in the preceding figures.

The drivingmechanism includes two oppositely A'thefcirive shaft 'in the opposite direction. .'lhese beveled. gears are ijournaledin bearings:2i6on the irame'.

rrFile Ybeveled 4gears '.2 H and 1218 mesh with .the

lgears I244 and i215 and v-are ikeved or otherwise fastened to respective :halves :of :the interrupted Y shaft J209 .which terminate .at'these `gears.

- 'Theoperation of tiieelutch isbest illustrated in Fig. =i1 and the diagrams-shown inFigsyflB- and i4. 'The'unitat the too center oiFig. .11 includes the'two'oems'n andz'. Theseoperate against the pin 221 on the .yokeiL throwing it from one leidef'to'tine other, so-that the shaft "23o yis rotated first-in one directionend then 1in the other as i'irstone clutch is closed, and then'the other. 'The position of thesecamsdetermiiies the number of degrees tvhichtheshaft ilturns in each direeytion before the V'direction :of rotation 'is reversed. Figslifand 14 show the cams located indiierent positions. nFig. latheoams are located opposite one :another so .that the "movement of .the shaft vi'iili! iin .one .direction is just equal Ato vits movement inthe other direction. This, ofcourse, would notbe'feasible forthefoperation of agita .tors in troughs such asithetroaghs 241| Where the 4iasgitators must be .moved more motie direction than lthe other 1in order .to move the material from one :endet the trough to theother, but is illustrativeof .how the cams maybe. set'orotlier operations :and clearly .illustrates the purpose of thecams. with the -camsset .inthe position shown'iniFig. 14'the movement in lone direction isimuch more than in the other direction. This will'be `further,explained .in connect-ionwith the .cam operatingimechanism. .FigylZ showsameans for mountinga cam on `tl'ietii'urri:28 and festem ing it .witha boit 1225i,the-sloti23t'l in :the cam permittingffattachnient:ofi thecam to :the drum Vat differentzpostions. Theholt tsr-tightened at any desired-position in the slot :to zlooete .the `cam esdesired.

'The drum neisprovideclwith aninternal gear shotvnin-Fig. Vl0. It is `ririoiiritedoii the shaftZS. .'rheibosslmside theorem 228 provides e. bear-A ing surface for rotation of the drum ontlie shaft. The shaft 2M is `mounted in .the bracket '239. Theorackett supports the shaft-'24! tonwhioh the :gears MZ and 24.3 :are keyed, "The teeth of the;gear 242; mesh .with .the fteethxoi the. gear surface 2&5 ontheaouterfsur'faceof the elutohfmein berfzi'l.

Thus, the1gears. ft2 andzhandithe drum v2253 are driven continuously in one direction iby the gear surfacef which moves withstheclutohmi Whichlis driven by the shaft 2 iti. 'Thegear sur... aceizdiswvide sol that the gear `2472 remainsin mesh #with :it vregardless of fthe position of the '.eiatehes. 'estrie drum 22a rotetestiiereamsfzre endfztoperate onthe pin" 2 2 i thr'mving the yoke 2H vfirst infone direction, and then intheother. Whenthecam 225i throws the yoke to `the right the clutch. v2&8 is closed and-the'beveled gear :2.95 turns the shaft 2&0 in onedirection. Then the cam :,226 throws the vyoke tothe left endthegear 2M is rotated by the clutchgelfin the 'opposite =-dire`ction. :Theispaeing "of earns .determines iii) .thenumber of v:rotations o! :the :shaft v2-D0 'in-each ydirection'beforereversal. Y

The ratio ofthe :gear :243 Ito thegearon ythe inner :surface lof :theorem :228 is .f4 to l1 so that the cam drum .22e makes vone vrevolution 'for -each irrevolutions `of the shaft 2m). If the cams '225 and '22a-.are plated izliiectly opposite one another Vasillustratecl in Fig. :13 the shaft 2m] -willfmake two rotations :inone direction and thentivo rotations inr'tiieothe'r. :If theoamsae-.notopposite to one .another :tas shown in Eg, 14) the shaft will rotate more in one direction vthan in the othei'yforzi-nstanoet or threetuins insonfsrdii recticn and tiren 1,1/2 Vorone .turnin 'the other direction. Thus .the cams may be 4set to move thermess of materielin the agitatingtroughs :21H in fthe forward .direction Aand then .backward .in any givenrratio. The Iarrangerxie'nt of thecams shown in Figs. wand 1.11-isgsuchthati;eachcom plete-.oyoleithe material is 'moved forwardineaoh ofthetroughs a greater-.distance than it snlfed book.

Aithoughthe drivingmechaniern is :shown con nected intermediate the two halves'of .the drivi ing -sheft .281?. and connected .through suitable gears.wti'iagitating means .in the several troughs, itis toibeunderstoodthat it hasniari'y other ap piioations.V It mevfor example, be mounted on the topfof a Avert-mal yshafttiie,bottom of which ie vprovided .with agtatingineans forlowering in to Va vati or the like. .Itimay thenbeciesiiable to locate the cams .225 and 'i256 direct-ly opposite one .another so Athat the'agitator will movefirs't in one direction .and .then for van equal number of :turns linthe opposite direction. When-.used for driving avertioal agitatorinthis manner the cams need not be locateti opposite oiieeiiother but-.may bepositioneci as desired.

In designing a :drier for sperrt grains from a brewery, itihas been kfound that riosiieciel.`oe e|.t-v ing arrange-mentir :required foi' producing a dry, ufy;massandjthe baiile Mend .shaft ivi-'therme 39 :and platee?fmaybeomitted., as unnecessary, The siaits 32 and .$5 withzhelcal blades-attached tvereimade toxextencl fromone endoi'fthetlougti to theother.y The=heatirig jacket wasnotfperti tioned, .asxat 34),'because it .ivasfound that there was no need for using steam at different Dies seres. Aiseriesof conveyors-.Waserraxiged to be driven impairs-as illustrated:iFigure, biitwitli gears provioinga e to 1 reeuetion between the drive andthe conveyor. .'liieartio of thegeai's :infami 2&3 lbeing also fait? toioifie providesv the eqaivalentfof one complete revolution of .the ecir-r veyorsioi':each` complete oyoie. The arrangement of fthe foams ehm-vn in'Fig, 'l0 provides for :ari advance of 3?;-ifciegreesii1-eci1 oompleteoycle. The spent grain is thus sion/ly `inotfeci forward with pressure of the :advancing .nights-.to caire it, and .the.pressure or the` flights aeainstthe. opp'o sitesmrtaoes of the @aired masses as the-direction Qfrotetion 'ofztiie flights Was reversed, with the breaking yup of the calied.- masses .as `they -reaeh the rods zito. and also es they reach. the middle of the trough, Withirepeaiteci subsequent foifiiftl tion, While -aliutire while heatis imparted from thejaeltetano heated gases are drawn through tire trouehfto `Hushovd; the'steam evolved. The sperrt .grain-is-thusreouced. from a Wet mass of 30 per -cerzt Ymoist'itre content -to .a light, iibi-ous as it isA moved-through the trough at 'afi overalbffate @13% ncl'ries per hour.

15 to .20 illustrate V still fuftherriiieaffis fet*V driving a shaft first in one direction eilithfi .inztlieothen i'lihis movi-be ashaiteonneoted 9.. with a vplurality of agtators in troughs as illustrated in Fig. 8, and is so shown in Figs.' 15 and 17 Where the opposite halves of the shaft are designated by the reference numerals 200m. Alternatively, the driving means may be located at the top of a vertical agitator shaft. The number of rotations in each direction is controlled by adjusting the position of the cams 300 and 30 I, as will be explained. In Fig. 20 the cams are located in the position shown in Figs. 15 to 17. In Fig. 19 they are located in a different position, and are indicated by the reference numerals 300a and 30Ia.

The main drive shaft 305 is driven from an electric motor or other suitable source of power. The clutches 303 and 301 are mounted concentric with this shaft and are movable axially thereof to engage first one of the beveled gears 300 and 3I0, and then the other. These gears mesh with the beveled gears 312 and 3I3 which drive the two halves of the shaft 200er. When the drive shaft 305 is being rotated in the direction shown in thev arrow, and the clutch 30.1 is closed, the gear 3I3 is rotated clockwise, and the gear 3I2 counterclockwise, and the shaft 200a rotates withv them. Conversely, when the clutch 30E is en'- gaged, the shaft 200a is rotated in the opposite direction.

The cam 300 is bolted to the surface of the clutch 301 by bolt 3I5 (Fig. 18). Cam 30I is' The sloping` surfaces 3I8 of these cams are adapted to contact the under surfaces of the respective arms similarly fastened to clutch 306.

320 and 32I which extend from opposite sides of the yoke 322. frame of the driving unit at 323 and 324. As

the cam 300 presses against the under side of the arm 32|, it lifts it and tilts the yoke 322 to the left (Fig. 16), closing clutch 300 andthus peripheral surfaces of the clutches 301 and '306;l These clutches 300 and 30'! are continuously :ro"

tating Whenever the main drive shaft`305 is operating, so that the U-arm 322 is continuouslyV thrown rst in one direction and then'in' the other, closing first one clutch and then the other. Each cam will engage its respective arm'of 'the' yoke 'on each revolution of the main shaft 305,"

and the number of degrees that the' shaft '200 rotates in each direction will depend upon the placement' of the cams 300 and I30I. If these cams were placed directly opposite one another the shaft 200a would turn-180 in one direction and then 180 in the reverse direction. There would then be no general movement of the contents of the different agitator troughs from the feed end to the discharge end. The movement' would be equal in both directions. By proper placement of the cams the material in the troughs may be moved forward any desired proportion of the time, and backward any proportion of the time, with any overall forward movement. l

The means for producing alternate rotation rst in one direction and then in the other, as-

illustrated in the various modifications of the This yoke is pivoted'to the 438, and at the In assembling, the side are mounted on the tops 445 of the jacket 446.

10 invention is compact and simple; There 'are no complicated operating parts. Any of the mechanisms shown may be used for the operation of a vertical agitator for movement rst in one direction and then in the reverse direction. There are many other uses to which the illustrated driving means may be put.

Figures 21 to 24 illustrate modified treating equipment in which some or all ofv the crossshafts are replaced by means for directing heated gases down into the mass of the material being treated. With such equipment there is no need for baffles, such as the baiiies 10, to direct down into the material the hot gases flowing over it. Instead, the hot gases are carried through the side channels 40|, 402 and center channel 403 from any suitabler source, andsmall increments are directed down into the material at frequent intervals. The source for the heated gases may be located in any convenient place, which may, for example, be at either end or at the middle of the equipment. Each channel may be `progressively smaller in cross section as it leads. away` from the source of the hot gases to maintain the respective gases under desired pres-- f Thus, the hollowedportions 4I5, M3 ofthe cross channel `40Iijextendfrom the ends of the crossl channel to points ywhich are respectively justv beyond the shafts 4|8, 4I@ of the blades M2 and4I3. y p.

A- small opening 420 is cut in the top center of each end of each cross bar. This connects withl an opening 421 provided above each cross channel.

in each side channel -and the center channel. The blocks 425 are bolted to the inner Wall 426 of the side channel 403 by bolts 427. Like blocks are fastened toside channel 40| and both sides of center channel 402.- As best shown in Fig. 24, the sides of these blocks taper upwardly, and as shown also-in Iiig.y 2'3 the top 430 slopes inwarmy. 'rms'ieaves' thenns 43| (Fig. 24,) on

. sage 4371boundedon the top by -theslopingwall sides by triangular` walls 430xA The -side channel 403 'is illustrated as made from channel iron which forms the top, bottom and inner wall 42B.. The outer wall is removable.v This gives easy access yto the interior and. permits placement of the-bolts 421. -The center channel may likewise be constructed with removable walls.

and center channels Blocks 425 mayA be fastened to the side and center channels beforey or vafter mounting these clamped in place byclamps 435.

spection or repair. is suitably supported by the side and center channels.`i` i Thehot gasesfedton the side: and center.` chan;- nels are thus diverted atl frequentintervalsinto. the.. cross channels which direct them; down' into: thef material' being treated and, eiicientlyv heat. and dry or oooh the material. The material: is moved back and forth-.under the*A inflowing gases. The cakes that are formed bythe backward. andi forward' movementv of the; blades ara disintegrated in these4 gases; The gases impart. heat to. the: materialV which volatilizesi the waterin,A it, andtheycarry'off theswater vapor. vl/'hendried;l the. gases. eiect uniform: cooking of4 the result'- ant product..

Modications may be. made without. departing from thev scope. of thetinvention which is defined i111 the; claims. which follow;

Whatl claiml is:

l'.` Apparatus for handling: materials which in cludes two adjacent paralleli shafts with` means for `rotating theshafts in opposite directions and means :for periodically"reversing. the direction of' rotation of the' shafts, substantially imperforate helical blades mounted adjacent the' shafts with the pitch ofcorresponding portions uniform; and with' the two blades overlapping', the blades ex tending'fi'ornone end to the` other of the respective'shafts` except for interruptions at the saine relative positions in the respectiveA blades, and at each interruption means perpendicular tov the shafts which extendsv intoY the' interrupted porti'on of each blade andY interferes` withA uniformy flow of' material moved by the bladesi 2'. Means for handling material which includes' a' trough, two parallel shafts adjacent one an-` other located' therein, means for rotating the 'Y shafts in opposite directions with the top portions thereof turning toward oneV anotherr and meansfor' periodically reversing the direction of' rotation of the shafts, a substantially imperforate' helical bladeattached adjacent" each shaft with corresponding-l portions of the two blades of the same pitch, the two blades overlapping and' extending from one end of the respective shafts to the other'v except for short interruptions opposite one another, and means located across they trough in corresponding interruptions in the re'- Y spective blades whereby uniform movement of material by the blades is interrupted, there be'- ing but small clearance between the trough' and the bottoms and outer edges of' the respective blades.

3: Meansfor handling'material whichincludes a trough; two parallel shafts adjacentvv onel another located therein, means for rotating' thev shafts in opposite directions with the top pore tions thereof: turning toward one another" and" means for periodically reversing the directionv of rotationv of" the'7 shafts, a substantially imperforatehelical'blade attached adjacent eachy shaft with` corresponding portionsl of the two` blades ofthesame-pitch and the two blades overlapping,

thel blades being` continuous from one` end of fil] their respective shafts to the other except for'` tween the trough and the bottoms and'v outerA edges ofthe respective blades, the pitchof the blades being substantially uniform throughout the' lengththereof except that at one end ofthe shafts the pitch is much less thanat any'otherA place along the shafts.

4. Apparatus for heating material, which com,

prises al lacketed elongated vessel.. two.y parallelA shafts running substantially the length of the vessel and located relatively close to oneanother, a. substantially imperforate helical blade. on each shaft: and adjacentV thereto with corresponding portions of the two blades of the same pitch` and thetwovblades overlapping, there being butr small clearancebetween the blades and the bottom and sidesv of the vessel', the blades being continuous I from: one end of their respective shafts tothe other except for short interruptions at the same position in each, means extending across the vessel perpendicular to thev shafts and located just above the shafts in each of said interruptions in'V the blades to interfere with uniform movement ofthe material with the blades; and' means for: rotating the shafts in opposite direc-- tions to move the upper portions of the blades toward. one. another and means for periodically I reversing thedirection of rotation of the shafts,

andmeans for. introducing gases at one endv off thevcssel and removing them from theother. 5; Apparatusfor heating materialwhich com.- prises a4 jacketedelongated vessel, two parallel shafts extending substantially the length1 ofthe.

vessel and located. relatively close to one another therein, a substantially imperforate helical blade on each shaft and adjacent theretowith corresponding portions of the two blades of the samev pitch and the two blades overlapping, there being but small clearance betweenthe blades'and thebottom and sides of the vessel, meansv for roa-v tating the shafts in opposite directions irst in one direction and thenV in the reverse direction, buty with a. larger number of rotations of the'v` shafts in one direction than in the reverse di rection, so as to provide-a general movement of the contents of the vessel from one end thereof to the other, the blades being continuous from: one end of their respective shafts toy the. other except for shortv interruptions at the same positionrin each, meansv extending across the ves selzperpendicular'to the shafts and located abovey the. shafts'. in. each of' said interruptions in the blades: to interfere with uniform movement ofA the material withV the', blades', meansV forA feeding material to one end of the vessel and removing it from the other end, andmeans for introduc-A inggases tothe vessell at thev latter end and rey moving them from the former to flush out, vapors evolved in' theitreatmentof'material tlierein.`

6;.Apparatus for; handling materials which comprises a trough, twov shafts. extending substantially the length of the trough with a sub-v stantially'imperforate helical blade attached ad`-v jacent: each shaft, correspondingportions of: theblades being of the. samepitch, with the blades-` overlapping; there being but slight clearance be-f tween'. the blades and the bottom and.` sides of:

the trough, and at one end of the shafts beyond' theblades arms xed to the respective shafts and extending outwardly with the arms fixed to the respective shafts being staggered with respect to one another and with but slight clearance be-' tween arms xed to one shaft and those fixed to theother shaft asv the shafts rotate in opposite directions, and means for feeding material from the bottom of the tr'oughon to the arms.

'7. An elongated vessel, means for feeding bulk' material to the vessel and discharging material' therefrom, means for introducing gases to the vessel and venting gases therefrom, means for moving the material from one end of the vessel` tothe other. and including means to form the material into small bulks of material andv for periodically reversing the direction of movement of said moving means whereby pressure is applied periodically to opposite sides of said bulks of material to repeatedly press the material into cakes, and means within said vessel for disintegrating the cakes.

8. Apparatus for treating materials which includes a trough, parallel shafts therein with intermeshing blades attached to the respective shafts, narrow interruptions at the same location in each blade, and in each such pair of interruptions means extending across the trough and spaced from the top and bottom thereof and adapted to convey gases down into the material being treated.

9. Apparatus for handling materials which includes a trough, two shafts therein adjacent one another located lengthwise of the trough, means for rotating the shafts in opposite directions and means for periodically reversing the direction of rotation of the shafts, a helical blade around each shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, an interruption at the same relative position in the respective blades, at least one complete encirclement of each shaft by its blade at each side of the interruption, and' at the interruption means located across the trough in the path of both blades which interferes with uniform flow of material moved by the blades.

10. An elongated vessel, means at one end thereof for feeding bulk material to the vessel and means for removing it from the other end thereof, means at different positions along the length of the vessel for moving the material from one end of the vessel to the other and for segregating the material into small bulks and applying pressure to said small bulks of the material to compress the material into cakes in its passage through the vessel and means for periodically reversing the direction of movement of said moving means whereby the material is moved backwardly a portion of the distance it is moved from said one end to the other, and means between said segregating and pressing means for disintegrating the cakes as the material is moved therebetween.

11. Apparatus for treating material, which comprises an elongated vessel, two parallel shafts running substantially the length of the vessel and located relatively close to one another, a substantially imperforate helical blade on each shaft and adjacent thereto with corresponding portions of the two blades of the same pitch and the two blades overlapping, there being but small clearance between the blades and the bottom and sides of the vessel, the blades being continuous from one end of their respective shafts to the other except for short interruptions at the same position in each, means extending across the vessel in each of said interruptions in the blades to interfere with uniform movement'of the material with the blades, means for rotating the shafts in opposite directions to move the upper portions of the blades toward one another and means for periodically reversing the direction of rotation of the shafts, and means for introducing gases at one end of the vessel and removing them from the other.

MELVIN J. NAPIER.

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